The Ballad Of Davy Crockett – Tennessee Ernie Ford

This track by Tennessee Ernie Ford spent four weeks in the UK top 10 in 1956.

(If this video fails to load, or you would like to watch a different version, search for The ballad of Davy Crockett by Tennessee Ernie Ford on YouTube.)

This week in 1956, The ballad of Davy Crockett by Tennessee Ernie Ford reached its highest position of number 3 in the UK singles chart. It had entered the top 20 two weeks previously at number 11 and broke into the top 10 a week later. After one week at its peak position, the song stayed in the top 10 for another two weeks, one of them in the top 5, and then fell to number 14 for the final two weeks of its chart life.

The ballad of Davy Crockett was released on the Capitol record label and was the last of three top 10 hits for Tennessee Ernie Ford in the UK. The original version of the song was recorded by the Wellingtons in 1954 for the television series Davy Crockett.

Three other versions of the song entered the UK chart in 1956. Max Bygraves took his version to number 20, a recording by Dick James reached number 14 and Bill Hayes took the most successful version to number 2.

More music from Tennessee Ernie Ford

 

UK singles chart for the week ending 28 January 1956

1. Sixteen tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford

2. The ballad of Davy Crockett – Bill Hayes

3. The ballad of Davy Crockett – Tennessee Ernie Ford

4. Love and marriage – Frank Sinatra

5. Love is a many-splendored thing – Four Aces

6. (Love is) the tender trap – Frank Sinatra

7. Rock-a-beatin’ boogie – Bill Haley and His Comets

8. Rock around the clock – Bill Haley and His Comets

9. Rock Island line – Lonnie Donegan

10. Sixteen tons – Frankie Laine with the Mellomen